People to Watch: Liberian immigrant's business sense

At age 14, Adenah Bayoh had her first job, where she got an invaluable foundation for a future in business.

That job, flipping burgers at McDonald's on Springfield Avenue in Irvington, taught her to be humble, and that the customer is always right, she said.

Now, 15 years later, the 29-year-old Bayoh is back on Springfield Avenue, exactly one mile from where she got her start. This time, however, she's not the employee, but the employer. The IHOP franchise she opened in October employs more than 100 full- and part-time workers.

After a grueling two-year process to get the IHOP franchise, which included negotiating the sale of the landmark Kless Diner the new restaurant replaces, the corporate people came to town on a Saturday to train the staff. But the wrong grills had been purchased.

Bayoh was given until Monday to have the grills replaced. She overcame what seemed impossible: The new grills arrived that afternoon.

"The girl can move mountains," said Kunle Ali, Bayoh's business partner. "I don't know how she does it. But she believes nothing is impossible."